Juncker stands by Mersch for ECB post

Luxembourg's Prime Minister and Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker has said that he will defend the BCL President Yves Mersch's nomination for a post at the European Central Bank.

12.09.2012

(CS/ndp) Luxembourg's Prime Minister and Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker has said that he will defend the BCL President Yves Mersch's nomination for a post at the European Central Bank.

The Premier confirmed to the Luxemburger Wort that he defended this position in Strasbourg, speaking with EU Parliament President Martin Schulz and the Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Sharon Bowles.

While Juncker voiced support for gender equality, he said this did not justify replacing an already nominated candidate. However, he said he would welcome if gender equality became a more important topic on the EU's agenda.

A hearing for the appointment of Mersch was cancelled last week, after no women were nominated for the post. The economic affairs committee in a statement said that Mersch's appointment would mean that no woman could join the ECB board until 2018, unless a member resigns or dies.

Member of the committee and French MEP Sylvie Goulard also said that the eurozone finance ministers, who put forward the nomination, had ignored the committee's request for several nominations.